The UK's Bloodstock metal festival has announced a change of dates and some exciting new additions including Swedish metallers In Flames and Arch Enemy to join already announced names such as legendary thrashers Testament.
The annual Derby-based festival usually has both indoor and open air incarnations, held at different times during the Summer. However, in a statement released today the festival's organisers announced that there would now have to be a break with tradition:
"Yes, the rumours are true. Bloodstock Open Air [previously to take place July 6-7 at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, England] will be changing date this year. It was not an easy decision to make, and obviously one we would have preferred to not to have had to make in the first place, but under the circumstances we didn't really have much of an alternative. I know what you're thinking: What circumstances are these then?, and to be honest, I would be thinking the exact same thing in your shoes. I would prefer not to go into any specifics at this time (mainly for fear of libel!) however let´s just say we found ourselves with increasingly mounting odds stacking up against us and the only way to overcome them was to move the event. So now the BOA festival will be happening on 16th, 17th and 18th August 2007. However we have managed to secure a bonus night for the Thursday which will feature a full headline set by the Bay Area legends Testament along with a support lineup [to be announced]. This will set us up nicely for the metal event of 2007.
"The weekend is shaping up rather well now, with the aforementioned Testament being joined by Korpikanni, In Flames, Wolf, Lacuna Coil, Arch Enemy, Dream Evil, Memfis, Rise To Addiction to name but a few.
"Due to the new dates of BOA being in such close proximity to the Indoor event [which was originally set to take place Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1 at the Derby Assembly Rooms, Market Square, Derby, England] it was unfortunately inevitable that we had to make the decision to postpone this year's instalment. This decision was harder to make than moving the Outdoor as the Indoor is the heritage of Bloodstock and the foundation of where it all began. We have spent weeks arguing the pros and cons but ultimately it doesn't make sense to run two similar festivals two weeks apart so this year the Indoor has to make way, but rest assured Indoor will return next year however, but in a revised format as we will be looking to return to the origins of Bloodstock, the one-day event at Derby Assembly Rooms, however it will be moved to later in the year, and in fact next year's event has already been confirmed for 22 November 2008.
"So, with the revised schedule for Bloodstock events this year, naturally this brings us onto the tricky issue of tickets as we know some of you will be unable to make the new dates, or some of you have bought Indoor tickets or Supporters club packs and are now wondering where this leaves you, and to those of you who have already bought their tickets (thank you!), we will email you all separately advising you of your options.
"I would like to thank you all for your patience and understanding and hopefully we can put put to bed all the negativity which has surrounded the festival for the past couple of months and concentrate on making BOA the metal event of 2007."
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